Underutilized.

Sounds as if last night and this morning, staff meetings with Todd Bowles were not much fun. [read more]

“Hey Lavonte, you have enough juice in those old bones to rush the passer more?”

Joe typed what most Bucs fans feel today, and felt yesterday, and many have felt for way too long. [read more]

Look! A Bucs running back forces a missed tackle on a run. Joe needs a Kleenex.

Yesterday, Joe called for Bucs coach Todd Bowles to “free Bucky Irving.” The rookie running back makes things happen. [read more]

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BY IRA KAUFMAN

I found a silver lining in Sunday’s Horrorshow against the Broncos … it was over in less than three hours.

It was quick, and yes, it was brutal.

The 26-7 beatdown was Tampa Bay’s worst home setback since midway through the 2020 season, when the Saints marched into town and administered a 38-3 seal clubbing. That Buc team went on to win the Super Bowl.

This Buc team is just trying to recover before the Eagles arrive in Week 4.

One loss, as thorough and dispiriting as it was, isn’t going to wreck the 2024 Buc season. But once again we are reminded that you will get your asses beat in this league if you aren’t ready to compete.

It was ugly from the start and never really got better. When the Bucs finally built some momentum by reaching the end zone on a terrific grab by Chris Godwin late in the half, they allowed the Broncos to drive for a field goal to make it 20-7. That was a telltale sign it was not going to be Tampa Bay’s day.

Denver applied steady pressure against Baker Mayfield while Bo Nix usually had enough time in the pocket to find favorable matchups.

Nix, who struggled in his first two games at the pro level, looked poised and confident against a Buc defense missing three key starters. He threw the ball accurately and on time while also hurting the Bucs with 47 yards on the ground, including a TD run around right end.

The Buc offense lacked juice, except for rookie back Bucky Irving. The protection in front of Mayfield was awful, especially up the middle. It was a game Graham Barton, Ben Bredeson and Cody Mauch will try hard to forget.

We’ve seen this Buc act before. [read more]

The ancient football axiom says, “put the ball in the hands of your playmakers.”

Another one says, “score first and good things will happen.” [read more]

Critical lesson learned.

Joe likes to say, “Rookies play like rookies because they are rookies.” Today was a perfect example of that and the lesson learned came from Graham Barton. [read more]

So superstar Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain appeared to take Mike Evans out of the game. Joe gets it.

But where were the deep shots to other Bucs recievers? Anyone remember the Bucs’ opening drive against the Lions? [read more]

Rut or small sample size?

Maybe for the first time in his 11-year career, teams have figured out how to take out Mike Evans. [read more]

It’s been said that the Bucs have superior leadership.

That leadership didn’t show up today. [read more]

Pass rush blues.

Sacks just destroy drives. If you somehow don’t believe that, you only needed to watch the Bucs lose to the Broncos 26-7 today. [read more]

Real talk.

The reason why Joe thought this was a trap game was obvious, along with common human emotions. [read more]

Todd Bowles loves quarterback pressure from his defense and he does a great job telling the world that those pressures can replace sacks.

Joe’s not buying it. [read more]

Bolts locker room to avoid reporters.

Joe thought Dave Caneles was gone. [read more]

Todd Bowles was direct and to the point after today’s blowout loss to the Broncos. [read more]

Missing and missed.

The Bucs had a ton of issues today in their blowout loss to the Broncos, 26-7, but Joe really felt the loss of manbeast defensive tackle Vita Vea. [read more]

That painful groin-stomp Bucs loss to the Broncos today might be soothed a bit by a glance at the NFC South standings. [read more]

What an embarrassing display — at home against a subpar Broncos football team.

When’s the last freakin’ time the Bucs got their doors blown off without the opposing QB throwing a touchdown pass? Unreal. [read more]

Time for the Bucs to hammer a weak opponent at The Licht House! Comment all game long below.

Please play nice! It’s easy to be decent.

A win pushes Tampa Bay to 3-0 for the first time since 2005.

Go Bucs!

It’s time.

Joe’s weekly feature isn’t just a here’s-a-pick, get-your-best-bet thing.

Joe will highlight Bucs-related lines each week in this space and how Joe is — and is not — throwing money around. [read more]